promoting equality and inclusion rosetta mcleod – ict manager, dundee city council

Promoting Equality and InclusionRosetta McLeod – ICT Manager, Dundee City Council

George Laidlaw – HT, Menzieshill High School

what do we mean by digital inclusion and exclusion?

how is Dundee tackling the issue? minibooks at Menzieshill Academy how can national organisations, local

authorities and commercial companies work together to promote solutions?

• explore• express• exchange

The vision access for all, whenever, wherever…… ability to be technological nomads blended learning needs blended technological solutionsintuitive users

Barriers to Digital Inclusion age competencies (skills, knowledge, attitude) location (eg urban/rural etc) socio-economic factors (income, culture etc) disability gender ready availability of appropriate ICT solutions etc

ICT in Dundee – the facts

Intelligent Community Forum (top 7)

Digital Observatory

good ICT infra-structure in schools

-1:5.81 in primaries 1:2.58 in secondaries

- well on the way towards desktop/IWB in each teaching area

high level of ICT/IT support

BUT……not all schools have ICT suites/pupil access to

computers in the classroomnot all new-builds have ICT suitesnot all pupils have access at home (Dundee towards

the bottom in SIMD)not all teachers promote ICT skillssometimes a business-standard education network

inhibits progress

Dundee minibook project hands-on access to elements of Glow

Pupil Pioneer project

obstacles to overcome

Glow Group

Challenges and solutions Linux-based – not supported by IT

Linux-based – not to connect to network

need for a solution where low-cost technologies complement existing infra-structure

pilot safe 3G filtered access (RM and T-mobile) at a fixed cost

The Menzieshill experience

Menzieshill High School, Dundee

DiscussionHow can the various players (national organisations, local authorities, commercial companies) work together to develop solutions which will promote digital equality and inclusion?

How can we overcome the technological barriers to equality and inclusion?

Will Glow increase or decrease the digital divide?

What are the implications of the draft Technologies outcomes?